Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Thomas Mayer
Author-Name-First: Thomas
Author-Name-Last: Mayer
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics, University of California Davis
Title: Some Practical Aspects of Pluralism.
Abstract: This contribution to a Festschrift for Warren Samuels argues that in giving policy advice economists should seek diversification and consider the probability of error, and also the loss function and risk aversion.  And since advocacy of a theory is in a relevant way like a policy decision, the same applies to theories.  If this means employing contradictory theories, then that is consistent with rational behavior.  In choosing a methodology, too, a sharp dichotomy of right and wrong is not useful, as the example of new classical reductionism illustrates.  Similarly, there is a role for probabilistic pluralism in making value judgments.
Length: 17
File-URL: https://repec.dss.ucdavis.edu/files/f6eXjLbDT1qvRuPG4tnFwfPT/99-5.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
Number: 214
Classification-JEL: 
KeyWords: 
Creation-Date: 20030114
Handle: RePEc:cda:wpaper:214